Page 19 of Eternal Obsession
“I will send my servant with an official reply.” I turned my attention to Alex again.
“I’m looking forward to introducing you to Jadeon,” Alex said.
“I’m also looking forward to meeting the young Lord Artimas. I’m sure we have much to discuss.”
“And the art collection. I promised to show you that.”
“Just to spend an evening in your company gives me the greatest pleasure, but if you wish to flatter me with such introductions and a tour of the castle, I am honored.”
“It is my pleasure.” Alex smiled.
“Talking of pleasure, tell me what it was about tonight that you found most pleasing.”
Alex blushed.
I ordered more rum.
Chapter Ten
JADEON
Hungover and dizzy with pleasure, Alex saddled his horse in the stables and rode home. He admired his new mare with her ease of stride, still in awe of such a generous bestowal. He knew she was as fine a horse as mine. He was well aware that it was wise to inform Father immediately of the new equine boarded in the castle’s stables. Lord Artimas had taught his sons etiquette if nothing else, and Alex intended to request an urgent appointment with him first thing in the morning to inform him of the circumstances of his gift.
On arriving home, Alex was informed by Arthur, our father’s private secretary, that approximately ten o’clock that morning would be convenient to receive an audience. Alex then ran to my room. On not finding me, he searched the castle in the usual places and eventually found me in the vast reading room, our father’s main library. It was here the servants were encouraged to take reading lessons, though few took my father up on his offer.
I sat at the large mahogany table surrounded by various books. The athenaeum had one of the most comprehensive collections in the county, shelved in their hundreds along the lofty four walls of the room. This was another of my favorite places. I often sat in here alone exploring the extensive collection that could never be read in one lifetime.
“Good morning,” Alex greeted me.
“Excuse me sir, this is a private reading room,” I jested.
“Jadeon, don’t be so—”
“Oh, it’s my younger brother. I did not recognize you.”
“I know we have not seen much of each other lately, but you have been your usual self-absorbed self and I have been my usual social, have-a-wonderful-time-and-live-life-to-the-fullest self.”
“Ouch.” I held my hand to my chest as if wounded.
“Sorry, but you know how you are.” Alex took the chair next to mine and looked down at the many books strewn upon the table. “I have to see Father. Lord Daumia gave me—”
“A new horse, yes. I heard the rumor. He must be fond of you.”
“I just hope Father lets me keep her.”
“Of course he will.”
“What are you doing then?” Alex said.
“Well, Father was even more serious than usual the other night at dinner and said he had something very important to tell me, something about some kind of ceremonial tradition. He has made me come in here for the last six nights to read these.”
I had in fact ignored my father’s instructions and had soon found other stuff to read. I fully intended on glancing at the material but thought that I would wait until the last minute and hoped to get away with it.
Alex picked up and opened the heavy leather-bound books one by one. “Am I also to carry on the tradition?”
I lowered my voice. “Look, I’m not even meant to be telling you any of this, so keep it very quiet. You know how Father gets. Apparently it’s something to do with being the eldest. He told me that I will be informed of the honor and initiated by ceremony, as tradition dictates, on my twenty-sixth birthday in two weeks.”
“Of course, your birthday.”
